A wildfire is an uncontrolled blaze fueled by wind, weather, and dry vegetation that can burn thousands of acres of land and destroy everything in its path. If you have been injured, lost a loved one, or suffered serious property damage from a wildfire, a Phillips Law Group wildfire damage lawyer may be able to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
As an accomplished personal injury law firm, we have recovered hundreds of millions in compensation for injury victims throughout Arizona. In fact, our firm’s founder Jeffery Phillips has received the distinction as one of the “Best Attorneys in America.” We can provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to determine the compensation you may be owed after a wildfire.
All of our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and do not charge upfront legal fees. You only have to pay us if we recover compensation for your claim for wildfire damage.
Call 602-222-2222 if you have suffered a loss caused by a wildfire.
How Can An Attorney Help Me After a Wildfire?
A wildfire is a destructive force of nature that causes severe devastation to anything that crosses its path. The damage caused by a wildfire often results in serious injuries, death, and significant loss of property.
Victims of wildfire damage often discover that rebuilding their lives after a fire can come with significant challenges. Although you may have purchased an insurance policy that included coverage for fire damage, many people find that they are underinsured. Often, the compensation insurance companies provide fire damage victims does not fully cover the cost of rebuilding their damaged or destroyed homes, personal property, or landscaping.
Wildfire damage claims involve complex litigation where often multiple parties can be held liable for causing a fire. This can include a utility company; tree trimming company; wiring company; or federal, state, county, and city governments and agencies. To help ensure your claim is properly handled, you may need a qualified wildfire damage attorney who understands the litigation process and can make sure your best interests are represented.
At the Phillips Law Group, our wildfire damage lawyers understand the impact that severe fire damage can have on a person’s life. We will handle your case professionally and efficiently while minimizing the effect it may have on your life. Our reputable law firm has decades of combined legal experience and is committed to investing the time and resources needed to represent your fire damage claim.
Our wildfire damage attorneys will provide you with a free, no-obligation consultation to review your claim and determine if you have a case that entitles you to compensation. During our initial consultation, we will review your insurance policy to determine if your insurer has acted in bad faith and provided you with inadequate compensation for your coverage.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form to get started today.
What Causes Wildfires?
Wildfires often begin unnoticed and spread quickly by igniting brush, trees, homes, and structures. Although wildfires can be started through natural sources, such as lightning, the vast majority of wildfires are man-made.
In a 2017 study, researchers analyzed 1.5 million government records of wildfires managed by state or federal agencies between 1992 and 2012 and found that humans caused 84 percent of wildfires and 44 percent of total area burned during the 20-year period.
According to the National Park Service, man-made fires are the result of negligence or carelessness, such as leaving campfires unattended, burning trash and debris, or discarding cigarettes in areas with dry vegetation. Intentional acts of arson are also contributing to the growing number of wildfires that occur in wildland areas near developed communities.
Additionally, wildfires have been caused by corporate negligence, particularly utility companies. Such an incident occurred in 2007 when faulty electrical wiring in a downed powerline struck a tree maintained by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. The incident caused three major Southern California brush fires that burned more than 198,000 acres of land, destroyed more than 1,500 homes, injured 40 firefighters, and caused two deaths.
If you have been affected by a man-made fire, our wildfire litigation attorneys will review your claim to determine which parties can be held liable for your damages. We will then work to construct a solid case to pursue maximum compensation for your claim.
Wildfires in Arizona
Some of the largest wildfires in state history occurred in just a 17-year period between 2002 and 2019. This includes 2019’s Woodbury fire in Tonto National Forest that began on June 8, 2019, and was not contained until more than a month later. The fire consumed more than 123,000 acres and was the fifth-largest in state history.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, Arizona ranks number seven for homes at risk for extreme wildfires by state as of 2022. The state with the highest risk is California.
California’s Paradise Camp Fire in 2018 resulted in the town of Paradise losing 90 percent of its population due to wildfire damage. The fire killed 85 people and destroyed 14,000 residences.
Wildfire Injury Claims
The path of an uncontrolled wildfire is often unpredictable. Strong winds and other natural elements may direct the fire toward developed areas with populated communities.
Wildfires that occur near populated residential communities have the potential to inflict massive damage on the area and its residents, including severe injuries or death. Our wildfire damage lawyers often represent two types of injury claims:
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries are one of the most painful and disfiguring injuries that you can suffer. Approximately 180,000 deaths each year are caused by burns and non-fatal burn injuries are one of the leading causes of disease development, according to the World Health Organization. If you or someone you love suffered a serious wildfire-related burn injury, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of bodily functions
- Disfigurement/scarring
- Long-term care
- Corrective surgery
- Pain and suffering
Smoke Inhalation
Any smoke you inhale contains particles that can cause severe irritation and inflammation in your lungs. Wildfires typically burn materials that contain carbon, which can release toxic chemicals such as:
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Benzene
- Toluene
- Styrene
- Acidic gasses
- Sulfur dioxide
- Hydrocarbons
- Metals
- Dioxins
- Nitrogen oxides
- Aldehydes
Wildfire smoke remains in the air for days or weeks after the fire has been extinguished. The smoke can cause serious adverse health effects, such as lung damage, difficulty breathing, asthma, and worsened health conditions.
If you or someone you love suffered a serious burn injury or medical complication from a wildfire, do not hesitate to contact our fire damage lawyers for qualified and aggressive legal representation. We will help you fight to receive the compensation you need to pay for medical treatment and recovery costs.
Wildfire Property Damage Claims
The damage caused by wildfires can be far-reaching and affect many different types of areas, including residential communities, construction or development sites, and privately owned agricultural farmlands.
Our wildfire litigation attorneys are qualified to handle fire damage claims surrounding several types of property damage, including:
Structural Damage
Wildfires that spread to residential areas or business communities are known to cause devastating damage to nearby structures.
A structure fire can cause extreme damage that may result in the total destruction of the building. Our fire damage litigation attorneys can help you pursue compensation for damages such as:
- Smoke damage
- Structural damage
- Roof collapse
- Plumbing damage
- Water damage
- Electrical damage
- Melting
Structural fire damage claims can also include the cost of code upgrades, as well as payment for uncovered or uninsured structures, such as garages, sheds, or guest houses.
Agricultural/Vegetative Damage
Wildfire poses a high risk to areas thick with vegetation and often destroys the majority of the native landscape. This can have severe long-term consequences, including soil erosion, flooding, landslides, and mudslides.
A wildfire can result in the total destruction of agricultural products and farming areas. Many farmers do not insure their crops and when a wildfire occurs, it can cause financial devastation for the farmer and may affect the local community.
Additionally, a wildfire will likely destroy the vegetation and landscaping of any area it affects. When a wildfire affects the native vegetation or a homeowner’s landscaping, it may take years for the area to fully recover.
Insurance companies rarely provide compensation for uninsured agricultural products and vegetation, which means you should contact a wildfire damage litigation attorney as soon as possible.
Personal Property Damage
Often, people suffer extreme property damage during a fire. As a wildfire can be unpredictable and may change its path without notice, people are left with little time to secure their personal belongings and are often forced to leave them behind.
Although personal property is one of the most commonly listed items lost in fires, many people are uninsured or underinsured in their fire damage policy to collect compensation for lost or damaged items.
Our attorneys will carefully review your policy to determine if you can recover compensation for personal property lost or damaged in the fire.
Fire Damage Insurance Policies
Insurance companies are often quick to settle fire damage claims, and many people who have suffered significant losses during a fire accept an insurer’s initial offer without realizing the true value of their claim until long after they settle. If you believe that an insurer’s offer is too low, or your claim has been wrongfully denied, do not hesitate to contact a skilled wildfire damage lawyer.
Our experienced fire litigation attorneys understand the true extent of damage that occurs during a fire. We will employ a team of investigators and construction professionals to assess the destruction that occurred to your home, business, or private property to accurately understand the value of your claim.
This could include compensation for:
- Personal property damage
- Damage or loss of residential or commercial structures
- Landscaping and destruction of trees
- Cost of evacuation
- Annoyance and discomfort
- Loss of earnings
- Medical bills and lost wages from personal injury
You deserve to be fully compensated for all losses covered by your insurance policy. If your insurance company has wrongfully denied or undervalued your claim, our wildfire litigation attorneys will aggressively pursue the full compensation you are entitled.
Please feel free to complete our Free Case Evaluation form to get in touch with our team about your potential claim.
Contact a Skilled Wildfire Damage Lawyer
If you have been injured or lost your home after a wildfire, it is in your best interest to contact a skilled wildfire damage lawyer as soon as possible.
At Phillips Law Group, our seasoned attorneys are skilled wildfire litigators and will thoroughly represent your interests during a fire damage insurance claim. We will identify the party responsible for causing the fire and hold it liable for the damages you suffered. Our attorneys are also experienced negotiators and will handle all communications with insurance companies to ensure your claim is treated fairly and properly represented.
Do not hesitate to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation if you have suffered significant personal injuries or property loss after a fire. We never charge our clients upfront for our services, which means our qualified attorneys only require payment if you are compensated for your claim.
Call us at 602-222-2222 to get started now.